The first Adaptive Snocross event was added to the 14th annual  X Games at Aspen, Colorado, running as a medal class on January 31, 2010, in its first year. It was the third X Games adaptive event for disabled sports athletes, with the first two being Mono Skier X (first medal in 2007) and Super X Adaptive Motocross (first medal July 2009).

Mike Schultz came out first of the six participants, taking the gold medal in the first Adaptive Snocross. The 28-year-old had already competed in six winter snocross X games before becoming an amputee, with a 9th in 2008 his best finish. In December of 2008, Schultz crashed at Ironwood, MI in an ISOC sanctioned race, and his injuries resulted in amputation above the knee on his left leg.  His time for the gold was 5:18.403.

Wright & Filippis prosthetic technician, Jim Wazny, won the silver medal with a time of 5:32.852. Wasny said, of his victory, “What an amazing honor it is to win the silver medal at the first Adaptive SnoCross at X Games 14. For disabled athletes to be recognized by ESPN and the other organizers of the X Games is truly an awesome accomplishment. The experience of being with all the high-profile athletes in the world is mind-blowing. To win the silver medal at X Games is a dream come true, and it proves that all things are possible if you are willing to put in the hard work.”

A motocross accident in April of 2000 resulted in the loss of Wazny’s left leg above the knee. For the past four years, Wazny has worked at Wright & Filippis in pursuit of becoming a prosthetist. He is very active in the company’s AmpuTeam program, which helps amputees return to pursuing their dreams and leading the most active life possible.

“I don’t believe I would be where I am today if I hadn’t lost my leg,” Wazny said. “It was a blessing in disguise. If I’m able to help one person by inspiring them to achieve their goals, all the hard work that I put in is worth it.” Wazny also serves on the board of directors for the Athletes with Disabilities Network which hosts the Extremity Games (www.extremitygames.com) and the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame (www.adhof.org).

Doug Henry earned the bronze medal with a time of 5:34.217 Henry became a T12 paraplegic in March of 2007 as the result of a motorcycle crash while practicing for a supermoto race.  Prior to his disability he was a four-time AMA motocross champion and won the 2005 X Games SuperMoto, plus had some snocross experience.

Forty-year-old Henry was disadvantaged not only by his age, but also by the fact that Schultz and Wazny both have the ability to stand up during the snocross event. To compensate, Henry modified the seat on his machine to give it more travel and strapped in his hips to ensure he didn’t fall of the sled, which could also be dangerous.

Final results of the X Games Snocross Adaptive event 2010:

Gold — Mike Schultz
Silver — Jim Wazny
Bronze — Doug Henry

References:

ESPN X Games — http://espn.go.com
Press Release from Jim Wazny